The significance of miRNA-191-5P and miRNA-24-3P as novel biomarkers for multiple sclerosis: a case–control study

Abstract

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-term disease that can lead to disability. microRNAs (miRNA) can provide noninvasive markers allowing more frequent and easy testing in MS. Treatment methods based on manipulating miRNA activity can be innovative. The purpose of this work is to measure the serum expression of miRNA-191-5P and miRNA-24-3P in MS patients. The investigation was carried out on 80 patients with MS (68 patients with Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), 12 patients with Progressive MS) and 40 healthy controls. The serum expression of miRNA-191-5P and miRNA-24-3P was measured using real-time quantitative PCR. The expression of the studied miRNAs was relatively calculated using the Eq. 2−ΔΔCt. Results Serum levels of miRNA-191 and miRNA-24 showed no difference between MS patients and healthy controls, and neither between RRMS and progressive MS groups. A negative correlation was detected between miRNA-191 and disease duration. Also, a positive correlation was detected between miRNA-191 and miRNA-24 expression. RRMS patients were significantly different from progressive MS patients regarding disease duration (p value 0.001) as well as expanded disability status scale score (p value < 0.001). Conclusion The study uniquely analyzed the correlation between the miRNA-191 and miRNA-24, being expressed in all MS patients, and being positively correlated means they are influenced by the same factors and they can be therapeutically targeted in the same way, so further studies are required. The impact of disease duration on miRNA-191 expression encourages regular monitoring of miRNA-191.